CASUALTIES OF THE GRIDIRON PROVIDES A RAW LOOK INTO THE DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLES OF MEN WHO ONCE REACHED THE PINNACLE OF ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT AND NOW - AS A RESULT OF THEIR INJURIES ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD - HAVE BECOME HOMELESS, DRUG ADDICTED, SUICIDAL AND ISOLATED.

THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF ONE ANOTHER AND THE HELP OF A TEAM OF DEDICATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THIS SERIES FOLLOWS THEIR PAINSTAKING JOURNEYS BACK TO HEALTH AND REDEMPTION.

EPISODE 01:I WANTED TO ENDMY MISERABLE LIFE

FORMER JETS' QUARTERBACK RAY LUCAS BELIEVES SUICIDE IS THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE UNRELENTING PHYSICAL PAIN AND SPARE HIS FAMILY FROM A DRUG ADDICTION THAT HAS BANKRUPTED THEIR FUTURE.
(RELEASE DATE 11/18/13)

EPISODE 05:THE MYSTERY OFTERRY TAUTOLO

A LINEBACKER ON THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS TEAM THAT WON ITS FIRST SUPER BOWL AND ONCE THE PRIDE OF AN INTACT SAMOAN COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOMELESSNESS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS – A TRAGIC DECLINE HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY BLAME ON THE MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS HE SUSTAINED OVER HIS 9-YEAR NFL CAREER.
(RELEASE DATE 12/16/13)

EPISODE 06:HONORABLE DISCHARGE

GENE MERLINO WAS A FULLBACK FOR ARMY BEFORE A SERIES OF CONCUSSIONS CUT SHORT HIS PLAYING CAREER AND LED TO AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE MILITARY. A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WITH A WIFE AND THREE ADORING CHILDREN, GENE IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEGUN TO INEXPLICABLY LOSE CONTROL OF HIS LIFE TO ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND RECURRING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.
(RELEASE DATE 12/16/13)

EPISODE 07:COMING CLEAN

GENE MERLINO AND TERRY TAUTOLO TRY TO MAINTAIN THEIR LIVES WHILE WAITING TO BE ADMITTED INTO A DRUG AND PHYSICAL REHABILITATION FACILITY IN ARIZONA
(RELEASE DATE 12/16/13)

EPISODE 08:SILVER LININGS

IN THE SERIES FINALE, 2X SUPER BOWL CHAMPION LEONARD MARSHALL AND LEGENDARY COACH DICK VERMEIL JOIN THE CAST FROM THE SERIES AS THEY CONTEMPLATE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
(RELEASE DATE 12/16/13)

DIRECTOR

ISAAC SOLOTAROFF

ISAAC SOLOTAROFF’S OTHER DOCUMENTARIES INCLUDE WHAM! BAM! ISLAM!, WHICH OPENED THE 2011-2012 SEASON OF PBS'S DOCUMENTARY SERIES INDEPENDENT LENS AND HE PRODUCED BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO WHICH WAS RELEASED IN THEATRICALLY IN 10 CITIES IN 2012 AND ACQUIRED BY HBO LATINO.

HIS OTHER DIRECTING CREDITS INCLUDE VISIONING TIBET, LOS ROMEROS (NOMINATED FOR AN EMMY IN 2001), AND BELIEF AMENDED, FAITH REVEALED (CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY SHORTS OF 1999 BY THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES, ARTS AND SCIENCES.)

DIRECTOR

JESSE HANDSHER

JESSE HANDSHER IS PRINCIPAL OWNER OF BYWATER FILMS WWW.BYWATERFILMS.COM AND PRODUCES DOCUMENTARY AND NARRATIVE FILMS, ALONG WITH BRAND AND PRODUCT FOCUSED COMMERCIALS. HIS DOCUMENTARY CREDITS INCLUDE THE CURRENT PRODUCTION OF A FILM ABOUT THE NFL AND THE CONCUSSION EPIDEMIC, A FILM ABOUT A JUVENILE SERVING A LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE SENTENCE IN MICHIGAN, A FILM ABOUT TRAPPIST MONKS AND THEIR CONNECTION TO BELGIAN BEER BREWING, BYWATER FILMS' COMMERCIAL CLIENTS INCLUDE METHOD HOME, DIY NETWORK, HGTV, CALIX, METASWITCH, TURTLE CONSERVANCY, SAN FRANCISCO FILM SOCIETY, OCHO CANDY, MOBLI AND COMMUNE HOTEL GROUP.

PRODUCER / CONSULTANT

JENNIFER SMITH

JENNIFER SMITH IS THE DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PROGRAMS AT P.A.S.T AND AN AWARD WINNING TELEVISION PRODUCER, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY VETERAN. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE LEADING EXPERTS AND ADVOCATES FOR FORMER NFL PLAYERS FOCUSING ON POST-CAREER MEDICAL ISSUES SUCH AS BRAIN TRAUMA, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, ADDICTION AND CHRONIC PAIN. SHE CO-FOUNDED THE GROUNDBREAKING GRIDIRON GREATS RETIRED PLAYERS ORGANIZATION WITH NFL LEGENDS JERRY KRAMER AND MIKE DITKA. SMITH HAS A SUCCESSFUL 20 YEAR CAREER AS AN ON-AIR TELEVISION AND RADIO TALENT, DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE AND PRODUCER FOR TELEVISION AND FILM WITH CAREER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDING THE AWARD WINNING SERIES YOUTHQUAKE SERIES FOR USA NETWORK, DOCUMENTARY AND SERIES FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL FOR KIDS, ESPN, FOX SPORTS, NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AND MANY OTHERS.